Carpet sweeper with brush pressure control means



July 8, 1952 B. R. THIELE 2,602,175

CARPET swEEPER WITH BRUSH PRESSURE coNTRoL MEANSA Filed Nov. 17, 1944 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 CARPET swEEPER WITH BRUSH PRESSURE 4CONTROL MEANS B. R. THBELE July 8, 1952 2 SHEETS-'fSHEET 2 Filed Nov.

Patented July 8, 1952 CARPET SWEEPER WITH BRUSH PRESSURE CONTROL MEANS Berthold R. Thiele, Ripon, Wis., assignor to Speed Queen Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,845

1o claims.

, l The present invention relates to hand operated carpet sweepers of the type having a rotary sweeper brush mounted in a translatable case and driven by support wheels of the sweeper.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel sweeper of the above character which in normal Aoperation applies downward pressure to the rotary brush proportionate to thedownw'ard force exerted by the voperator on the sweeper and which is automatically operable, in instances in which the downward 'force on the sweeper is excessive, to limit the downward pressure on the brush to the optimum pressure requisite to a smooth and eminently eflicient'sweeping action. A related object is to provide a carpet sweeper in which the brush is protected from overloading either by excessive resistance between the vbrush' and the floor covering or by excessive downward pressure on the sweeper to the end that the useful life of the brush and the sweeper is prolonged and Vwear on the oor covering is A morespecilc object is to provide a carpet sweeper.` of the type recited having a novel brush and support4 wheel assembly integrated into the sweeper case in a manner whereby the brush is moved downwardly relative to the support wheels in response to increasing downward force on the sweeper4 up to a predetermined value, the brush and wheel assembly being responsivey to downward pressure on the case above the predetermined value to oat upwardly in the case for virtually terminating the downward movement of the brush relative to the wheels and at the same time limiting the downward pressure on the brush to that required for optimum sweeping action. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view/showing a carpet sweeper embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal Sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2l with certain parts broken'away for clarity in illustration.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3 and showing the relationship of a typical wheel support tothe casing guide therefor. n Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of one end ofthe sweeper of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end of vthe vsweeper casing.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen 'that' a carpet sweeper embodying the present invention comprises in general'a case Crsupported on floor wheels F which also serve to drive a rotary brush B. .For propelling the sweeper back and forth across the surface to be swept, a handle I-I is provided. The lower end of the handle H is connected to ya bail H', the arms of which straddle the casing andare pivotally connected thereto. The means for automatically controlling the relative height of the brush B and oor wheels F and for automatically causing the brush B to -float when excessive pressure is applied to the handle H is designated generally at M and of course is provided at both ends of the casing C. Dust pans (not shown) are Vpivotally supported in the lower part of the case on the opposite sides of the brush B.

The case C comprises an archedv cover plate I5 extending longitudinally of the sweeper and two outwardly bulging end shells I9 attachedto opposite ends of the cover plate with adjoining marginal edges of the plate and the respective shells disposed in overlapping engagement with each other. Two vertical end plates I0 are disposed vwithin the case C and suitably attached to contiguous casing parts to have general alinement with ythe'junctures between the cover plate i5 and the respective end shells I9. The vertical plates I0 support the internal working parts of the sweeper and also serve to partition the space enclosed within the case C into an inner sweeper compartment under the cover plate l5 and two outer wheel compartments embraced by the respective end shells lil (see Figs. 2 and 6).

- The floor wheels F are rotatably mounted on stub axles 35'. These axles 35 are riveted, welded or otherwise suitably secured to :floating axle supports 36. These axle supports 36 are of a plate-like construction.v They are mounted for floating movement in arvertical plane to permit both swinging movement, and fore and aft movement, in a slotted guide structure designated generally at 31. lEach slotted guide structure comprises a pair of vertical plates 38 and 39 supported on'thewalls of the casing `and having upper and lower spacers 40 and 4I to maintain them in closely` spaced parallel relation. The guide plates SS-and 39 may be constituted of metal, or suitable rubber composition or plastic. The spacers M) and 4l may be individual spacers or may be formed as an integral part of one or both guide plates. As shown, the spacers 40 and 4I are individual elements and are held in place by the same rivets 42 which secure the guide plates 38 and 39 to their end wall I0 (see Fig.

4). The intermediate portion of each floating axle support 36 is tted for free movement in between the guide plates 38 and 39. The inner end of each axle support is forked or bifurcated as indicated at 43. These forked inner ends of the axle supports embrace journal sleeves 65 combined with the ends of the brush B in a manner which shall behereinafter fullycfdescrifbed. A spring designated generally at "50 yis provided. It has an intermediate portion anchored as at 52 to the contiguous end wall of the casing.

Spring arms 53 are integralfwith the intermediate portion of the spring 50 and extend inward'lyand downwardly at approximately a angle. The lower ends of the springarms'53rare tra-nsversely bent as at 54 and in the assembly; are inserted in slots 55 provided in the-axlesupports' 36. These spring arms 53 are tensioned when they are forced or sprung into the slots55. -The tension thus set up in the spring arms 53 acts at Aan angle' of. 451downward1and also-exertsr an-in- -wardthrust on the'axletsupports 36'. "TheverticalJ cor-nponentr ofthis-'forcevwifll *pressi the; axle `supports againstfithe low-erzspacers'l Il whilerthe horizontal component :movesi the .axlesupports v'136i inwardly. .The inward movement of: the' axle supports is 'stoppedn when vthe yfloor 4wheels-TF engage-the brushpulleysiti: also .combined with vthe end'sl ofA 'the -brushB ina :mannerv to.v .be `herein-- after'moreff-u'lly described. When' the sweeper'v is -in :use the` pressure inormally applied to the' handle HVwillin effect, cause the wheels: to 'move upward vrelative to the case. This Vupward movementV of? the wheels serves 1 to lift the vou-terfends offthe1axle supports 36-against nthelvertical component ofi force exerted bythe spring 5B. The tension-.ofthe spring '.arms'53 Avhowever' will` holdl 'the :inner end ofthe axle :sup-

ports-down-against thev inner ones ofi thev lower spacers 4l which act as fulcrumsiaboutfwhichthe .axlersupportsf36 fswingfina vertical plane.n As ai consequence Aof this .upward swingingumove- -f ment of the faxle: supports, the forked ends 443 rthereof Imove fthe. brush y'Brd'ownwardly thereby acting lto i obtain -good brushy contact 'with the Yfloor cover-ing. -However,I .in the eventffexcessive A resistance in'sweepingrisrmetby' the brush, or excessive 'pressure isf-applied to lthe' 1hand'le,.the re- Vaction -on'fthe brush' will cause' the axleA supports to-Ioat'iupward-lv leaving theA inner fulcrums 4I. l

Consequently.' the-bruslr'B will' alsofiloat -so-.that thecomplete. wheel and brushf suspension` is' lifted `from the lowerrspacers f4.1', thereby limiting the pressurerof'- brush contact so'astoavoid Vundue wear andtear onthe carpet orf rug. "Withthe'angular speed'othe brushfan'd its #diameter xed the *determining factor in the eiiciencyl of sweeping is thefpressurevv of the brush I'on the carpet. `Too?little'pressurevwill notclean thecarpet, too'. much-will' cause excessive wear-*on As-shownto vadvantage infFig.-'2, the body 60 -lar cross section and the inner portions of the brushiaxleof*square cross section to obtain the idesired rigidity and the capacity to transmit torque. The portion of each brush axle which projeetscutwardly/ from its associatedv shrink cup `(iS'carries Va `journal sleeve 65 with which the forked-ends 43of the axle supports 36 are engaged. There are openings provided in the end wallet!) to accommodate these journal sleeves 65. The margins of these openings are provided -wth inturned ilanges 66'which coact -withthe journals sleeves Atofprovide Vhorizontal displacement ofi the? bruslr 13.Y

It will: loe-notedthat. there: isrrathericlose' contact between the: pron-gs of: the forked-v ends; 43 of theaxlezsupportsz3larrdr .the journal', sleeves 6.5. :'However', this:closercontactv existsmonly vez-tical'ly: in the't horizontalidirectiorr theforkedsends '43sareopen onE their innerrsidesf-while there? iste substantial;clearancebetween the'iournal sleeves thereacanebef nov interference-with the: eilectlve .driving engagement?floetweenrl the: door` fwheelsrF p moved fbyrpu-lling the .iloorvwheel 5F outwardly against: thettensionzof': theawheelx spring 5,6.untll the .i forkedfends S43; oflthe :axle::suppor.ts 36eaare vdisengaged. from". theev journal sleeves's65.

y.While I :':havev shown and .describedy toner construction in which the' invention-'mayheadvantageously embodied, it is to be understoodr'that the construction showni hasE vbeenlselected#merely 'fori the purpose of illustration- .or example, and

that various changes -in the- 'f-size, i shape, eand Varrangement of the parts maybe made without departing from the spiritjotr the invention or'the scope of" the subjoi-ned claims;

`'Subject matter' disclosed in the1 instantapplication as originally filed but not claimed herein "forms thesu'bject matter; of three copendingrap- "plications Serial Nos. '230;129; I230,130; "and 230,131J all filed Junel 6, 1951,.

YWhatll claim is:

1. vA carpet sweeperf comprisinga case.4 apair 4of i'loorrwheelsat eachY end-0f thecase', a'rotary brush having fpulleysj at: lits ends Vdriven "bythe floor wheels, axles fortheoorwheels, iloating .supports for the axles; said supports being interconnected with"Y the brush'to support 'it forrotation and constrain'itzto move down 4asI the wheels -move' up relative' to the case and vice versa until downward .pressure on saidcasing exceeds aipredetermined. value, a. guide structureffor each support on said case and confining vsaid support'for free iloating movementin'avertical plane,..stop means in said structure. to limiti downward movemer-1t of' said support and 't'oprovi'de'l for swinging movement of said `support 4in a vertical -"plane under normal operatingconditions ancltopermit said support to 4freelyiioat when *downward pressure exceeding said predetennined-value* is applied' to thecasing, and springl means mounted on the casing and connected-to Atl'ieaxle supports'an'dfacting to urge them downwardly-"with a predetermined force and also inwardlyv to yieldably maintain their interconnection withv the brush and driving engagement between the door wheels and the brush pulleys.

2. A carpet sweeper comprising a case, floor wheels for the case, al rotary brush, axles for the floor wheels, a plate-like support for each axle, each plate-like support also being interconnected with the brush, a guide for each support comprising a pair ofvertical plates supported on the case andhaving spacers between them to maintain them in closely spaced, parallel relation, each plate-like axle support being fitted between the plates of its` guide for free floating movement, for swinging movement in a vertical plane about a lower spacer as a fulcrum and for fore and aft movement. and spring means connected to the axle supports and acting to urge them downwardly with a predetermined spring force and also inwardly. v

3. A carpet sweeper comprising a case, iioor wheels for the case, a rotary brush, having jourals at its ends, axles for the noor wheels, a plate-like support for each axle, each axle being supported adjacent the outer end of its support, the inner ends of the supports being forked and embracing the journals of the brush to support the brush for rotation and control its vertical position, a guide for each support comprising a pair of vertical plates supported on the case and having spacers between them to maintain them in closely spaced, parallel relation, each axle support being tted between the plates of its guide for free floating movement to permit Y swinging movement in a vertical plane about a lower spacer as a fulcrum and fore and aft movement, and spring means mounted on the case and connected to the axle supports to urge them downwardly with a predetermined force and also inwardly yielding to maintain their forked ends in cooperative engagement with the journals of the brush.

4. A carpet sweeper comprising a case, floor wheels for the case, a rotary brush, axles for the floor wheels, a support for each axle, a, guide for each support, each guide being mounted on the case and having a horizontal slot extending therethrough fore and aft of the case, each axle being mounted on its support adjacent the outer end thereof, the inner ends of the supports being interconnected with the brush to support it for rotation and control its vertical position, the intermediate portion of each support being extended through the slot of its guide and being fitted therein for free oating movement, and spring means mounted on the case and connected to the axle supports to urge them downwardly with a predetermined force and also inwardly to yieldably maintain their interconnection with the brush.

5. A carpet sweeper comprising a case, floor wheels for the case, a rotary brush, axles for the floor wheels, a support for each axle, a guide for each support, each guide being mounted on the case and having a horizontal slot extending therethrough fore and aft of the case, each axle being mounted on its support adjacent the outer end thereof, the inner ends of the supports being interconnected with the brush to support it Afor rotation and control its vertical position, the

intermediate portion of each support being extended through the slot of its guide and being fitted therein for free floating movement, a spring for each set of floor wheels, each spring having its body portion anchored on the case and having ,downwardly and inwardly inclined Yspring-arms connected to and tensioned to 'exert a predetermined downward force on the supports and also toV urge them inwardly yieldably to maintain their interconnection withthe brush.

6. A carpet sweeper comprising a case, four iioor wheels therefor, a rotary brush,4 axles for the floor wheels, supports for the axles mounted for free iioating movement in a vertical plane, stop means cooperating with each support to limit its downward movement, and spring means normally maintaining said supports against said stop means, each support being disposed for swinging movement in a vertical plane when in contact with said stop means under normal operating conditions, and "being permitted' to float bodily upwardly from said stop means when excessive downward pressure to overcome said spring means is applied to the case, said supports being interconnected with the brush to support said brush for rotation and operable when in contact with said stop means to constrain said brush to move downas the wheels move up relative to the case and vice versa.

7. A carpet sweeper comprising a case, four floor wheels for the case, a rotary brush, brush axles secured to the ends of the brush and projecting therefrom, journal sleeves fitted on the projecting ends of the brush axles, axles for the floor wheels, supports for the wheel axles, slotted guides mounted on the case, said supports extending through said guides for free universal floating movement in a vertical plane, stop means including a fulcrum on each of said guides for limiting downward movement of the associated support, the inner ends of said supports being forked and embracing the journal sleeves to support the brush for rotation and when in contact with said fulcrum to constrain said brush to move downwardly as the wheels move upwardly relative to the case and vice versa, and spring means urging said supports downwardly and inwardly.

8. A carpet sweeper comprising a case, iioor wheels for the case, a rotary brush, axles for the oor wheels, supports for the axles, fulcrums underlying said supports, said supports being floatably engaged with the fulcrums and interconnected with the brush to support it for rotation and constrain it to move down as the floor wheels move up relative to the case and vice versa until the downward pressure on the case exceeds a predetermined force, and spring means carried by the case and connected t0 the axle supports to urge them downwardly normally against the fulcrums with a force equal to said predetermined force and also inwardly, the floating mounting of the axle supports permitting said supports to move upwardly away from said fulcrums whereby to cause the brush to float therewith when pressure applied to the case exceeds said predetermined downward force exerted by the spring means on the axle supports.

9. A carpet sweeper comprising a case, floor wheels for the case, a rotary brush, brush axles secured to the ends of the brush and projecting therefrom, journal sleeves fitted on the projecting ends of the brush axles, the end walls of the case having openings through which the journal sleeves extend, the margins of the openings being flanged and cooperating with the journal sleeves to prevent horizontal displacement of the brush, axles for the oor wheels, full vertically floating supports for the wheel axles, the inner ends of the supports being forked and embracing the journal sleeves tOsuppOrt-Ythe brush forl rotationfand constrainit -to move downas. the. vwheelsv moveA up relativeto the ease-and viceversa untl-the-,downwand force Jon.- the case; exceeds -a .predetermined value; slottedj guides mounted on the case and in whichthe supports-float, and spring `means urging thesupports downwardly and inwardly.

- V1-0.A lcarpet sweeper comprising-in combinationpa casing,l a pair of oor VWheels, at1 each end of said-casing, -a rotary brush havingl pulleys yat opposite ends-interposed between and in selfcentering driving.engagement with 'said wheels, axles-for Vthe 110er wheels, guide members xed on said .casing l between Asaid pulleys l and axles .and deifini-ng horizontally disposed -fguide slots with stop* means =at the bottom thereofcarrier plates extending laterally. throughsaid slots, said plates normally `Islidably'and pivotally resting on said stop meansvandhbeing bodily movable .upwardly therefrom into position for freeuniversal vertical floating movementin said slots, theouter ends of said -plates-journalling said-:axles and the inner ends of said plates being bifurcated toernbracesaid pulleysk to support` saidA brush for vertical movement, and-spring means acting, directly BERTHOLD R. THIELE.

lREFERENCES CITED Theliollowngl rferencesare. of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED' vSTA'I'ES PATENTS Number yName Date 1,786,864 Pullen Dec. 30, 1930 1,937,590 Pullen Dec. 5, 1933 1,993,296 Cummins Mar. 5, 1935 2,054,194 "Fineb'erg Sept. 15 1936 2,112,814 Parrish Mar. 29,' 1938 2,193,182 Piillen Mar. 12, 1940 Y2,228,528 Miller Jan. 14, 1941 '2,278,736 Poggensee Apr. 7, 1942 '2,319,631 P11-lien May 18, 1943 

